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Write about the Market reforms introduced by Alauddin Khilji.
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The market reform of Alauddin Khilji was one of the most effective and far reaching economic regulations of the Sultanate period. It did not remain confined to rural economy but extended to urban market as well. He issued a set of seven regulations which came to be known as market control measures.
These measures were enacted to regulate the activities of the traders who brought grain to Delhi. The Sultan fixed the prices of all commoditions from grain to cloths, slaves, cattle etc. A controller of market (shahna-i-mandi) intelligence officers (barids) and secret spies (munhiyan) were appointed. The grain merchants were placed under the Shahna-i-mandi. Regrating (ihtikar) was prohibited.
His first effort was to see that there were sufficient stocks of food grains with the government so that the traders did not try to hike up prices by creating an artificial scarcity or indulging in profiteering (regarding). For this purpose royal stores were set up at Delhi.
Perhaps significant and lasting impact of these reforms was the furthering of the growth of a market economy in the villages and bringing about a more integral relationship between the town and the country, the furthering of the process of the internal restructuring of the sultanate.
The impact of Alauddin Khilji’s market reforms on the contemporary society was immense. The fact that articles were sold at cheap rates in Delhi made many to migrate to Delhi. Among them were learned men and excellant craftsmen. As a result the fame of Delhi increased.
The people of Delhi were happy. They were prepared to follow the rules prescribed by the state. They became more disciplined. Hence crime decreased. They benefited the state very much.
This created an environment of socio-cultural development. Literature, the mirror of a society, took a new life. A distinct type of literature was born in the khanqah (hospice) of Nizamuddin Auliya. It is known as Malfuz (sufi) literature which gives mystic version of the history between 1308 to 1322.
Fawaid-ul-Fuwad, the first mulfuz literature, was compiled by a disciple of Nizamuddin Auliya, Amir Hasan Sijzi. Amir Khusro and Ziauddin Barni also belonged to the same period.
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Objectives of Market Reforms:
As per Barni, the basic objective of these reforms was to maintain a large and efficient army for keeping the Mongols in check. Such a large army could not be maintained and kept content out of the normal revenues of the state, unless the prices of commodities were reduced. Thus, economic regulations were primarily a military measure.
However, this view of Barni is debated because several commodities, for which the prices had been fixed, were of little or no use to the soldiers. Besides, merely for the military needs such extensive economic reforms were not needed. This view of Barni can be supplemented with that of Amir Khusru. He says that sultan introduced these reforms for the general welfare of the people and these were intended to ensure the supply of important commodities for the benefit of common people as also collect food grains for the royal treasury at prescribed rates to combat famines.
Major Reforms:
The economic regulations issued by the sultan for controlling the markets were as under:
Zawabit or detailed regulations were made to control the prices of various commodities, from food grains to horses, cattle and slaves, which were fixed by the state. No change was permitted in the price of the commodities without the state’s permission.
He tried to control prices along with its availability and distribution. The Karwanis or Banjaras carriers formed a guild where they became guarantors for each other.
The cultivators were not allowed to hoard. Only 10 mound {1 mound=40 kg} of grain they could store. Rest they had to sell into market.
Four separate markets were established for various commodities central grain market, market for manufactured goods, market for general merchandise and market for horses, cattle and slaves. Each market was put under the charge of a Shuhna or controller of market, and all merchants were to be registered with the state. The sultan received daily reports for the markets from the three independent sources – Shuhna, barids (intelligence officers) and munshis (secret spies).
Very strict punishment was prescribed for cheating and under-weighing. Shehna-i-mandi was appointed to keep a strict vigil.
To reduce the prices of the costly or imported commodities, the state used to subsidize their costs. But such subsidized items were sold on a permit issued by the permit officer (Parwana Rais), appointed by the state.
There was also provision for rationing during famine, drought or scarcity of food drains.
Sarai-i-adl was the market for clothes, which was setup near the royal palace at Badayun gate.
Horse trade was monopoly of the Afghans and Multanis. The middlemen and dalas sold them in the market. Alauddin did away with the intermediaries and asked the merchants to sell the horses directly to the Diwan-i-arz.
Impacts of Economic Regulations:
The economic regulations of Alauddin were the greatest administrative achievement of the Sultanate period. The prices remained steady and there was no change in them even after lack of rain or other causes. It was a unique and remarkable achievement. The success of these economic measures was largely due to the genius and personal attention of the sultan. These measures failed to survive his death because they operated against economic laws.